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Spend ten minutes talking with Mr. Shannon Potratz and you will know at least two things about him for certain. One, he is an affable guy. Somewhat self-effacing, he has a good sense of humor and (despite the bad ass pic above) a cool, sweetness about him that makes him easy to talk to. Second, he is passionate about his art, his comic books, and Star Wars.

Spend more time with him and you’ll also find that he is an intelligent, hard-working man. A loyal friend, he is one of those guys who appreciates the people around him, and finds inspiration with them. Genuine and real, keep reading to learn more about this incredible fantasy artist!

SnS – Please tell us, what got you into art? Did you have a mentor?

Shannon – My father was a huge influence on me. As an accomplished (but frustrated) artist himself, he encouraged me to pursue a career in art. Growing up, he never had any encouragement from his dad, who thought art was a “waste of time.” So he spent 40 years in a job he hated. Both my mother and father were insistent that my brother and I find something we love and make that our career.

SnS – What would you call your style of illustration?

Shannon – Fantasy art. Of course, that encompasses a variety of genres from science-fiction to comic books. I’m also currently working on a couple of independent comic projects. Some of the art for them can be seen above, but I really can’t tell you much about them yet.

SnS – What mediums do you work with and what is your favorite?

Shannon – Pencil, pen & ink, Copic marker, acrylic, and digital are my primary mediums. I love the raw energy of simple pencil sketching. I like that sense that everything is always in motion.

SnS – Are you classically trained or self-taught?

Shannon – I’d say a little of both. I picked up a pencil at a very young age (probably around 4 years old). I took every art class I could throughout junior high and high school and received more formal training when I went through the graphic design program at Spokane Falls Community College.

SnS – So many artists and writers that I speak to, tell me that they are never really satisfied with their work. Do you find this to be true?

Shannon – (laughing) Of course. There is always something that can be tweaked.

Shannon – My inspiration comes from many different things and often at the most random times. I love movies and reading books and comics. But much of my inspiration comes from interacting with other artists. The creative banter back and forth between creative minds is an invaluable tool. I also periodically have dreams and will wake up in the middle of the night with images in my head. That’s when I have to grab a pencil and paper and quickly jot those ideas down, otherwise I’ll forget, haha.

SnS – Do you have a day job, if so what do you do?

Shannon – I work full-time as a graphic designer for Bassett&brush Design. I also do freelance work for a company called Outland Entertainment.

SnS – Do you have any other hobbies / talents / interests?

Shannon – I mentioned my love of movies, books, and comics. I also love getting outdoors and exploring new places. It’s amazing the wonders you can discover in your own back yard. I’m also a bit of a Star Wars nut and enjoy building costumes and authentic looking movie props. I’m a member of the 501st Legion (a world-wide Star Wars costuming group). I’m currently building my own life-size Han Solo in Carbonite, haha.

Due to the fantasy nature of your illustrations, I have to ask. Do you play any RPG games, LARP, or otherwise geek out?

Shannon – I used to play some table top games. In fact, years ago I collaborated with my close friend, Daniel Davis on a world we called Agyris. We used this as a backdrop for tabletop gaming with our friends. We had fun with that for a while, until the demands of family life took precedence. Daniel has since gone on to create his own company called Steam Crow, having developed a huge fan following, which he calls the Monster Scouts.

SnS – If you could invite any 4 artists (from any genre – musicians, painters, etc.) to picnic with you, who would it be and why?

Shannon – I would love to have a sit-down with Ralph McQuarrie, Frank Frazetta, George Lucas, and Frank Herbert. I’d be WAY in over my head but the discussion would be fascinating and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather learn from about the mysteries of fantasy, science-fiction, technology, myth-making, and the universe.

SnS – Now for the serious question. . . Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?

Shannon – Isn’t it possible to love both? But if I had to pick, it would obviously be Star Wars. Now that’s the universe I want to explore and live in. It straddles the line between fantasy and science-fiction (leaning a little more towards fantasy) and has that gritty realism that seems more immersive to me. From a world-building perspective, Star Wars is unparalleled.

Star Wars defined my childhood. As a kid, I would run down to the local 7-11 to buy Star Wars comic books. I still have the very first comic book I ever bought, Marvel’s Star Wars issue #6. It’s a little beat up, but it is priceless to me. It is framed and hanging in my home. Though Star Wars was my main thing, it introduced me to the world of Marvel. I still have most of my Marvel comics, including Thor #337. The beginning of Walt Simonson’s legendary run, and the first appearance of Beta Ray Bill. I love the cover art on that issue!

I think this original sketch of Shannon’s speaks for itself, and his love of all things Star Wars 😉

SnS – Do you have any causes or charities you support that you’d like to mention here?

Shannon – As a member of the 501st, I’ve done many events that support several charities, including Communities in Schools, and the Wishing Star Foundation, as well as several cancer research organizations.

And finally, please list any websites or galleries where fans (old and new) can find more of your work.